Feeding mechanism for fabric-measuring machines



A. HOUSTON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FABRIC MEASURING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILE MAYI6 i921 1 437 658, Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

4 SH EEEEEEEEEE llll A.. HOUSTON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FABRIC MEASURINGMACHINES.

AIPLICATION FILED MAY I6, I92]- 2 2. 9 1T 5 m v 0 es Dm dw m m a D1 A.HOUSTON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FABRIC MEASURING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I921.

' Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

vvvvvvvvvvvv UVUVUVVVVVVV A.'HOUSTON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FABRICMEASURING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIE. I921- 1,437,658 Patented Dem-5, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVEN TOR.

ATT RNEY.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

AUBREY HOUSTON, OF AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

FEEDING MECHANISM ron FABRIG-MEASURLING MACHINES.

Application filed May 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that 1, AUBREY HoUsroN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland. and residing at Auckland, in the Dominion of NewZealand, have invented a new and Improved Feeding Mechanism forFabric-ll feasuring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machinesand has for its primary object the provision of simple and practicalmechanical means for feeding fabrics uniformly and evenly to and throughfabric n'ieasuring machines.

Most fabric measuring machines operate through the rotation of one ormore rollers by the friction produced by pulling a portion of the fabricadj acentone edge over or between the rollers, and in practice it isfound that the clerks often pull the fabric through by jerky unevenmovements, or on other than a straight line pullso that the portiontraveling over the rollers zigzags instead of remaining parallel withthe edge of the cloth. These methocs result not only in incorrectmeasurement but at times crumples or tears the fabric. My invention aimsto eliminate the human element in measuring fabrics and so avoid theinaccuracies and losses due to unintelligent or care,- less manipulationof the fabric in operating the machine.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, which will be readilyapparent as the invention is more fully disclosed, my invention consistsin combining with a measuring machine a device for intermittentlyfeeding the fabric to and through the machine.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe specification and illustrating preferred embodiments of my inventionand in which similar reference numerals designate siniilar partsthroughout the several views.

In the drawings Fig. 1. is a rear elevation of my invention in positionadjacent a measuring machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. d is an enlarged diagramm atical view of one of the feeding arms,showing the positions assumed by the movable roller at various stages ofits travel;

Fig. 4; is an. enlarged detail view of the 1921. Serial N0.4= 70,218.

Figs. 7 and 8 are a section and elevation 1 respectively of one of therollers provided with a gripping tread, and

Fig. 9 is a rearelevation of the feeding mechanism mounted to give alonger throw to each feeding movement.

Referring now to the drawings the numeral 5 designates a fabricmeasuring machine of any approved type, the one herein illustrated beingprovided with upper and lower jaws 6 divided by a slot 7 throughwhichthe fabric is'adapted to pass during the measuring operation, thefabric rotating rollers carried by the jaws 6 during its passage, andthe rotation of such rollers sets in motion a train of gears adapted toindicate on the dial 8 the quantity of-fabric measured. The measuringmachine is preferably mounted on a post 9 arranged for verticaladjustment in a bracket 10 carried at the rear edge ofthe base plate 11upon which feeding mechanism is positioned. By virtue of thisarrangement the measuring machine and feeding mechanismfmay betransported to any desired location in a store or may be moved along acounter to various positions as it is desired for use. Also by mountingthe measuring machine on an adjustable post i am enabled to use the samefeeding mechanism with various measuring machines. it being onlyessential that the slot 7 through which the fabric passes, is correctlylocated at the right height between the traveling arms of the feedingmechanism.

As shown in Figs; 1 to 5 myfeeding mechanism comprises a pair oftraveling arms 12 pivoted upon brackets 13 carried by the base plate11-on each side of and closely adjacent to the measuring machine 5.Similar traveling arms 14 are pivoted upon the brackets 15 located inhorizontal alignment with the brackets 13 but upon an upper plate 16mounted to move on the base plate 11 toward and away from the measuringmachine.- Parallel slots 17 (see Fig. 2) are preferably provided in theplate 16 for guiding the movements of said plate in changing itspositions, bolts 18 secured in the base plate 11 extending through theslots substantially as shown. By tightea ing the nuts upon the bolts 18the plate 16 may be clamped in any adjusted position. The traveling arms12 and 14 are connected for simultaneous movement by telescopingextension members 12 and 14: respectively, these members overlapping tovarying degrees to adjust themselves to the changes in position of theplate 16. The arms 12 and 1 1 on the left side of the measuring machineare provided with lower rollers 19 (see Figs. 2 and 4:), which may bemounted upon trunnions fixed in the arms and with upper rollers 20mounted upon trunnions 21 positioned in curved slots 22 in the arms, andwhich are adapted to be held either in contact with the lower rollers 19or at a distance therefrom, according to the positions occupied by thetrunnions in said slots. The various positions assumed by the upperrollers 20 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, the full lineposition showing the rollers separated and the trunnion 21 held at oneend-hereinafter called the high endof the curved slot 22. In thisposition the rollers do not grip the fabric passing between them, andupon the traveling arms being lowered, the rollers pass over the fabricto a new position before they approach each other to again grip thefabric for advancing the same during the next forward motion of thetraveling arms. The positions assumed by the upper rollers as the arm 12travels downwardly is shown in :lotted lines in Fig. 4, the trunnions 21resting" upon the upper edge of the curved track 23 and being retainedin the high end of the slot 22 until such slot changes its position froma substantially horizontal one to a subs antially vertical one, theroller 20 then falling by gravity into the opposite end a! "lie slot 22,which end is closer to the trun- "ion of the fixed roller 19. Thedistance between the trunnion of the fixed roller and the lower end ofthe slot 22 is regulated to hunt: the surfaces of the rollers intoconact when no fabric is between them. Consequently when the fabric hasbeen introuced between the rollers, the weight of the rpper roller 20 asit approaches the lower rcller, will serve to firmly grip the fabricduring the upward swinging movement of the traveling arm 12. Thisposition of the rollers will be maintained during practically the entireupward movement of the arm 12, the trunnion 21 riding upon the uppersurface of the track 23 until it reaches the raised portion 24- thereof,the trunnion then riding up the incline to such raised portion and sobeing elevated until its surface is out of contact with the fabric, inwhich raised position it enters the high end of the slot 22 as shown infull lines inFig. 4. This separation of the roller 20 from the fixedroller 19 serves to free the fabric and the rollers return to theirlowermost position before again gripping the fabric for the nextadvance.

The track 25 at the right of the measuring machine 5 is provided with araised portion 26 at its lowermost extremity (see Fig. 1), thearrangement being such that the rollers in the arms 12 and 1d on theright of the measuring machine grip the fabric during their downwardtravel and release it only at the end of their downward stroke. Therollers when thus separated pass over the fabric and regrip it only whenthe upaermost extremity of their travel is reached. it he rollers inthese right hand arms 12 and are similar in construction to thoseareviously described in connection with the left hand traveling arms.However, the curved slots 22 in such arms may be positioned as desiredto limit the positions of the upper rollers during the travel of thearms, as, for example, shown in Fig. 4.

The arms 12 are connected for simultanecus movement by means of across-bar 27 pivoted at its opposite ends to the respective arms 12, andcarrying adjacent its central portion the handle 28 whereby the feedingmechanism is operated. As best shown in Fig. 1 the arrangement is suchthat when the arm 12 at the left of the measuring machine is in itslowermost position the arm 12 on the right of the measuring machine isin its uppermost position or close to the measuring machine. lVhen thehandle 28 is grasped and moved to the right from its position in Fig. 1,the left hand arm 12 is raised and the right hand arm 12 simultaneouslylowered until the positions of the arms are reversed, and the left handarm 12 approaches close to the measuring machine. By then moving thehandle 28 to the left the right iand arm 12 is raised and the left handarm lowered until they again assume the position shown in 1.

It will be clear from the above that when fabric is introduced betweenthe rollers of the traveling arms it will be moved toward the measuringmachine 5 by the left hand arms 12 and 1 1 and away from the measuringmachine by the right hand a1 12 and 1 1. In operation the fabric desiredto be measured is first unrolled from the bolt for several yards andpiled on the counter adj acent the left hand travelin arms. The edges ofthe fabric are then passed between the rollers 19 and 20 of the lefthand traveling arms, the arm 14,- being moved toward or away from themeasuring machine according to the vidth of the fabric. The fabric isthen advanced over the left hand stationary rollers 30 arranged atsubstantially the same height as the slot 7 in the measuring machine,then through the slot 7 and over simi= lar stationary rollers 31adjacent the right hand end of the slot, and then between the. rollersof the right hand-traveling arms.

Sll

e the slot or the 1 against the operating rollers or the machine.

TllGDlOVGDIQBl] oil the fabric through the slot is accordinglyineasured. Un the first strol of the traveling arms the end of thefabric is moved downwardly by the right hand arms and when this strokefinished therol i 19 and are automatically s paratehereinheitoredescribed. The traveling a1 are then ready to return to regrip therubric at the uppermost end of its S'tl'OliG. But. it has been foundthat best results are obtained it the free end oi. the fabric is hrstsecured adjacent the lower extremity of the right hand traveling arins.Accordingly, I pro/"5 erahly provide a clamp 32 (see Figs. l and whichholds the end of the tahric while the arms 12 and let ltlfllfe theirreturn stroke to grip the :tahric ina newplacc. The advance stroke isthen repeated and additional ia-hric pulled through; the slot of theineasuri inn-- chine. At the end of thisstrolte the rollers are againautomati ally separated and return to regrip the fabric for the nextstroke. The fabric pulled through the machine is piled loosely adjacentthe right hand tracks When the desired amount of fabric has ."assedtl'irough the -1neasuring machine the oortion desired is cut from theremainder of the bolt and folded as desiredthe remainder being rewoundupon (the bolt in the usual manner. Should it happen that. the desired.quantity 0:. fabric has been measured when the trmrelinp arms areintermediate the ends of their str lies, the strokes may he stopped atsuch interinediete positions and the fabric severed. I accompl sh thisinthe illustrated einhodii'nent of the invention hy mounting a p wl 38upon the handle 28 (see Fig. 5) which meshes with stationary ra k 34: tolock the handle and cross-oar 27 in any dew w; to

sired position. A. spring: normally presses the pawl 33 into contactwith the ra k 3e and a hand lever 86 is pivoted on the handle so as tohe grasped by the operator. ll hen the desired measurementis effected,the op erator inerely releases his grasp on the hendle and the spring;35 throws the pawl into locking); engagement with the rack.

While the quantity of fabric measured is shown on the dial 8 of theineasr I chine. ll also preferably provide an auxiliary dial 37 on thefeeding mechanism. As shown in Fig. the dial 3? is marked adjacent theraclt tron above by the person operating the feeding mechanism. Thisdial 3'? as herein shown is divided into 18 parts, preferablyrepresenting leased at any intermediateposition it serves to indicate on,theauxiliary dial how many inches of fahrichas heenPulled through the.34: preferably so as to be easily read inches and when the pawl 33 isre measuring machine h during that partial stroke.

lfl hile the embodiment illustrated in r igs.

1 to 5 show a travel of say i=3 inchesn the len 'th ot the stroke otthereedino arnis t: may he regulated as desired. F or example 111 F1 9 l.have illustrated an einl'iodnnenr wherein the stroke oi the, ar as 120is inste- 7 A i' I I U12 il- Q 'i b "liv )1? 11a 0 greater ran that 0tie era. eminent shown in Figs. 1 to 5. This accomplished by p votingthearnis 1120 upon the brackets 130 more remote :t'r-"in the ineasurinme- \3 ohms so that the orc d-scr hed hy the rollers 01"" the travelingarms is materially greater. By locating the brackets 13 at the requisitedistance from the ineusuring inacl no and adjusting the radial lengthsof the arms 120, any desired length of strolre may be oh tained. i

The rollers l9 and 20 may be provided with any desired tread that willfacilitate grippingthe fabric so as to prevent slipping. (fine form oftread preferred by me is illustrated in Figs; 7 and 8 andcorn iirises anulltiplicity of projections ll) extending tans'entially and allpointing; in the some direction. Thus when a, pull is put upon theprojection lOin the direction of their extension, very little oppositionis made to the passa e of the jiahric. while if attempt is made to pullthe fahricin the opposite cirection eachjot' the proje ions d0 then incontact with the fabric would have to he bent to permit the Fabric toslide whereby ,i fent opposition is offered to the passage of the fabricin suchdirection. This construction seems particularly desirable forfirmly gripping the :tabricdurinn the advance opcitations. or the strokeand permitting the rollers to pass over the fabric during the returnportion of the stroke.

Ihave also shown inl ig'. 6 modified torin of mounting the ro lers inthe travelinn; arms when it is desired not to use the slots 22 andtracks 23. In this modification fir; the trunnions ll concentrically oi"the lower roller 190 and arrange the trunnion eccentric silly of theupper roller 200 suhstantially as shown. The result of such locetionottlie rollers is that when the rollers occupy the full. lin --oositionshown they will. by the weight 0" the upper roller, the fabric duringany attempt to move the iahric in the, direction of the arrow and willseparate when attempt is made to pull fabric between the rollers in theopposite direction.

Vhei however, the upper roller is swung on its trunnion to occupy theposition shown in dotted lines. just the opposite is the resuitend-fabric passing in the direction of the arrow will he allowedto-freely move bemodified form shown in F 6 is particularly ndaptablefor returning taoric through the grip neasuring macnine sl-oul it becomeneces- For example, should the customer deire two yarns of fabric anothe clerk ac- Y .entally pull 2'2 ya ds through the measurnachine, theextra 11; yard could be 'ealdily returned through the measuring machineturning the rollers 200 on their trunnions so as to grip the fabric forthe pull in the reverse direction. It is also possible-to utilize theform shown in Figs. 1 to 5 for returning the fabric as above describedfor short distances as the rollers will grip '11 either dire tion at allportions their trolre except after the upper roller has been moved intothe high end of its slot by the inclined raised portion 24. of thetrack.

From the above it will be apparent that my improved feeding m chanismcan be made in varied forms, all of which possess the inherentadvantages my invention and any of which will effect the desiredstraight line pull with the edges of the fabric maintained parallelthroughout the entire movement, the fabric tautly held at the pointwhereit passes over the measuring rollers, and the entire stroke being madeuniformly and evenly so as to insure accurate. measurement. c

Having described my invention, 1 claim 1. A. device for feeding fabricto and througl'i a measuring machine, comprising arms pivoted adjacentthe machine and carrying rollers adapted to releasably grip the fabric.said arms being mounted to swing toward and away from the measuringmachine.

2. A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine,including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, said armsbeing mounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine, onebeing arranged. to advance the fabric to the machine, and the otherbeing arranged to move it through and away from the machine.

3. A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine,including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, and havingpairs of rollers mounted therein to grip the fabric, said arms beingmounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine, one of saidarms being arranged to advance the fabric to the machine, and the otherbeing arranged to move it through and away from the ma chine.

A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine,including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, andconnected to move in unison throughout their entire stroke, said armsbemounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine, one ofsaid arms being arranged to advance the fabric to the machine, and theother being arranged to move it through and away from the machine.

5. A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine,including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring fintClllllG, andconnected to move in unison. said arms being mounted to swing toward andaway from the measuring machine, one being elevated toward the verticalwhile the is being lowered, said arms carrying otner rollers arranged togrip the fabric.

6. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring ma chine and carrying rollersadapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed thefabric to and through the measuring machine, one arm of each pair beingadjustable toward and away from the other.

7. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, and carrying rollersadapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges, to feel thefabric to and through the measuring machine, the arms adjacent one edgebeing adjustable toward and away from the others.

8. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, carrying rollersadapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed thefabric to and through the measuring machine, and means for separatingthe rollers to re ease the fabric when desired.

9. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms p voted on each side of the measuring machine and carrying rollersadapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to Seen thefabric to and through the measur machine, one of said rollers on eacharm being movable toward and away from the adjacent roller.

10. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine and carrying rollersadapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed thefabric to and through the measuring machi e, the upper roller beingmovable toward and away from the lower roller of each arm.

11. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, each arm carrying apair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edgesto feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, and stationarytracks on which the trunnions of one of said rollers is guided formoving the rollers apart and together as desired. 12. Feeding mechanismfor fabric meas- Elli uring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivotedon each side of the measuring ma chine, each arm carrying. a pair ofrollers adapted to grip thefahric. adjacent its 0pposite edges to feedthe fabric to and through the measuringmachine, and stationarycam-shaped tracks on which the trunnions of one of said rollers isguided for moving the rollers. apart and together as desired.

13. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, and carrying rollersadapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed thefabric to and through the measuring machine, the arms adjacent one edgebeing adjustable toward and away from the others, and telescopingconnections between the arms on each side of the measuring machine.

14. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, each arm carrying apair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edgesto feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, stationarycamshaped tracks on which the trunnions of one of said rollers is guidedfor moving the rollers apart and together as desired, and a clampadjacent one of said tracks.

15. A portable feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines,comprising a base arranged to support the measuring machine, and a pairof arms pivoted to said base on each side of the measuring machine tofeed the fabric to and through the measuring machine,

16. A. portable feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines,comprising a base arranged to support the measuring machine, and a pairof arms pivoted to said base on each side of the measuring machine, eacharm carrying a pair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent itsedge to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, andstationary tracks mounted on said base for guiding the rollers to movethem apart or together as desired. I

17. A portable feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines,comprising a base arranged to support the measuring machine, and a pairof arms pivoted to said base on each side of the measuring machine, eacharm carrying a pair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent itsedges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine,stationary tracks mounted on said base for guiding the rollers to movethem apart or together as desired, auxiliary pivoted arms in alignmentwith the first mentioned arms, a plate to which said auxiliary arms arepivoted, and means for adjustably mounting said plate on said base tomove new a) Us G the "auxiliary arms toward from an first mentioned Yl8. ceding mechanism for fabric measuring machineacomprising a pair ofarms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine to feed the fabric toand through the measuring machine, a pair of rollers mounted in eacharm, said rollers having an ant slipping tread togrip the. fabricduringthe feeding movement.

19. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pairof arms pivoted on each side of the measuring ma chine to feed thefabric to and through the measuring machine, a pair of rollers mountedin each arm, said rollers having an antislipping tread to grip thefabricduring the feedingmovement, and means to separate one roller ofeach pair from the other to release the fabric When desired.

20. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pairof arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine to feed the fabricto and through the measuring machine, a pair of rollers mounted in eacharm, said rollers having an antislipping tread to grip the fabric duringthe feeding movement, the upper roller of each pair being adjustablymounted in said arms to permit separation of the rollers, to release thefabric wh never desired.

21. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pairof arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine and carryingrollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, means for swingingsaid arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and through the measuringmachine, and means for stopping said swinging movement at any point ofits stroke. 22. Feeding mechanism for fabric measurmg machines,comprising a pair of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machineand carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, meansfor swinging said arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and throughthe measuring machine, and means for stopping said swinging movement atany point of its stroke, comprising a stationary rack and a ratchetmoving with the swinging arms and arranged to engage the rack whenreleased.

23. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pairof arms pivoted on each sid of the measuring machine and carryingrollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, means for swin ingsaid arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and through the measuringmachine, means for stopping said swinging movement at any point of itsstroke, and

indicating means arranged to show the quantity of fabric measured duringan incomplete stroke.

24. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pairof arms pivoted on each side 01 the measuring machine and carryingrollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, means for swingingsaid arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and through the measuringmachine, means for stopping said swinging movement at any point of itsstroke, comprising a stationary rack and a ratchet moving with theswinging arms and arranged 10 to engage the rack when released, and anaurcili ry indicator arranged to show the quantity of fabric measuredduring such incomplete stroke.

AUBREY HOUSTON. Witnesses JAMES Z. HALL, EDW. S. CHAMBERS.

